Soviet lenses (P6 mount)

itsdoable said:

CFi - nice! What size digital sensor are you using, I've mostly used the fisheye with film, as you loose the 180 FoV with digital.

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I am using it on Hasselblad with 33x44mm sensor. The only Phocus has the lens profiles for this lens.

itsdoable said:

If you go out to the corner of 54x54 image, you'll probably find more aberrations with digital.

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That's right. This is typical of lenses produced in the '80s, especially wide-angle lenses. By the mid-90s, Hasselblad and Mamiya 67 lenses had already been corrected for digital sensors. As I mentioned before, the F-Distagon still exhibits purple fringing at the edges before the lens profile is applied.

itsdoable said:

Even with film, you could see the difference between the F-Distagon (C) and the Arsat, noticeable in the center, and much more noticeable at the corners. The optical projection was also different.

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Maybe you had a bad copy because the slides I shot with the Zodiak-8 are tack sharp from edge to edge. Additionally, mine was fully multicoated by Hartblei, meaning all the lens elements were multicoated, unlike standard lenses, in which the only front and rear elements were multicoated. This results in only one light spot reflection opposite the sun within the frame and no loss of contrast.

I just won an auction (Catawiki) and bought the Fisheye + rear filters for 175 euro (excl.). I'm glad to own one of these monstrous lenses again. Now I hope everything will operate smooth and the infinity focus will be working properly.

The Volna is now on my list...

Analogski said:

I'm looking for the fisheye lens, but man.... The prices went up! Two years ago I bought one for 130 euro. It couldn't focus to infinity. Now I know it's because it missed the rear lens filters ... Unfortunately I sold it. Now.... They go easy for 200+ euro. Many of them also come without the filters.

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It could be worse. Take a look at recent prices for the Mamiya 645 24mm fish-eye. Ouch!

MMfoto said:

It could be worse. Take a look at recent prices for the Mamiya 645 24mm fish-eye. Ouch!

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This is because of the ultra low dispersion glas (ULD) in this lens. My Mamiya ULD 50mm is free of chromatic aberrations on digital medium format sensor, even 20mm shifted.
So I assume it will be similar with ULD 24mm lens.

Alexander6x6 said:

This is because of the ultra low dispersion glas (ULD) in this lens. My Mamiya ULD 50mm is free of chromatic aberrations on digital medium format sensor, even 20mm shifted.
So I assume it will be similar with ULD 24mm lens.

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Interesting. I didn't know that was an ULD lens. I assumed the price was do to the popularity of Mamiya 645 lenses with video shooters, with people gobbling up the small number of these lenses to complete a set. Although that lens would be of very limited use for video.

Analogski said:

Hi,

I’m looking to add another lens to my Kiev-60 system. I already own several Zeiss lenses, but I’d like to complement them with some Soviet lenses for a variety of photography, mainly portraits and nature.

I’m currently considering the Arsat fisheye, the Vega-12B, and the Vega-28B.
I’d be interested to hear your experiences with these lenses. Which of them offers the best balance between image quality and price, in your opinion?

Thanks

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I currently have Arat fisheye. Haven't developed the film yet, but looks fantastic through the prism. I'm shooting with a Pentacon six. Also have a Kiev 6c. I love that camera because it's left handed, but it needs a CLA and Ukraine is off limits to me for now

Tomp56 said:

I currently have Arat fisheye. Haven't developed the film yet, but looks fantastic through the prism. I'm shooting with a Pentacon six. Also have a Kiev 6c. I love that camera because it's left handed, but it needs a CLA and Ukraine is off limits to me for now

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The Kiev 6C was originally developed for the Soviet space programme, which is why it has a left-hand design. The right hand was meant to be kept free for writing notes during shooting.

Ik just looking at my lens I bought on de Catawiki auction. It has some coating damage on the lens. Will it be visible on the photo's?

Alexander6x6 said:

multicoated by Hartblei

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What color are the multi-coatings on your Hartblei modified lens?

MMfoto said:

What color are the multi-coatings on your Hartblei modified lens?

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It is the same as Arsat lenses of last generation, because they did it at Arsenal factory using its recipe.
BTW "ArsAT" stands for Arsenal Aktionerno Tovaristvo, which means "Arsenal stock corporation" in Ukrainian.

Alexander6x6 said:

It is the same as Arsat lenses of last generation, because they did it at Arsenal factory using its recipe.
BTW "ArsAT" stands for Arsenal Aktionerno Tovaristvo, which means "Arsenal stock corporation" in Ukrainian.

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That's what I was wondering. I have a Zeiss Jena lens that has an aftermarket, green multi-coating. I've been wondering if it was done at Arsenal.

Thanks for the Arsat = Arsenal. I didn't know that.

Alexander6x6 said:

The Kiev 6C was originally developed for the Soviet space programme, which is why it has a left-hand design. The right hand was meant to be kept free for writing notes during shooting.

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Very interesting! I wonder if there is an archive of pictures taken with it for the space program somewhere.